I am trying to work with Murphy on protocols in the Click to Calm book by Emma Parsons. (GREAT book by the way)I feel like we've made a lot of progress with laying calmly. Murphy gets clicked for relaxed body position, etc. We're not all the way yet, but I would like to work on some of the more advanced stuff...at least at the beginning stages. When working on reactivity toward people or other dogs, a basket muzzle is recommended. I'd prefer wire, I think, as the plastic ones seems to be totally closed off at the end. The idea is to get one he could still get treated through...even if it is a taste of baby food. I have done a google search and am completely overwhelmed. Anyone know of a good place to get such a muzzle?

BTW, I do have one of the nylon-style muzzles that keep the mouth completely closed. He does wear that one without a problem.

I love shopping here: http://dogsportgear.com/index.htmThey have decent muzzle prices. I use plastic greyhound muzzles for my dogs most of the time. They're cheaper than wire, lighter for the dog to wear, are durable and you can still treat through them if you need to. However this place has wire baskets as well if you'd prefer one of those.

Let me add (especially for lurkers) that I don't feel Murphy is vicious. He is reactive. He has reacted to other dogs, and thus far, it has been all noise and no teeth. It has only been certain dogs and usually when he is scared by something else. He is fearful of men and strangers. We are working on it, I try to manage it. Once I get my tax refund, I plan to set up an appt. with a veterinary behaviorist for his fear issues. I don't know if we are actually going to ever use a muzzle in training. I am just looking into it in case we ever decide to go that way. I figure it can't hurt to teach him to wear one and accept (Muzzle = fun party and great treats). I actually think it would help ME not tense up over how Murphy is going to react.

I bought one for Inara...to get her comfortable with it, in case we ever needed to use one. She also can take a regular muzzle without too much complaint. She's also reactive, esp. at the vet...so I make sure she's muzzled by me before we start. She's never bitten anyone...but I'd like to keep it that way!

I'll tell you though...even if you're having him wear it for training purposes...you're going to be limited to where you can use it...without getting screams of "OH MY GOD, that dog is wearing a muzzle!"

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

TheRedQueen wrote: She's never bitten anyone...but I'd like to keep it that way!

me too!

TheRedQueen wrote: I'll tell you though...even if you're having him wear it for training purposes...you're going to be limited to where you can use it...without getting screams of "OH MY GOD, that dog is wearing a muzzle!"

I know. *sigh* I even get that reaction when Murphy has just a head halter on.

TheRedQueen wrote: She's never bitten anyone...but I'd like to keep it that way!

me too!

And knowing both of them...you'd really have to push for them to bite, but I do like having her wear a muzzle *just in case*.

TheRedQueen wrote: I'll tell you though...even if you're having him wear it for training purposes...you're going to be limited to where you can use it...without getting screams of "OH MY GOD, that dog is wearing a muzzle!"

I know. *sigh* I even get that reaction when Murphy has just a head halter on.

Yeah, most everyone in puppy class would be fine and understanding...but it just takes one random person coming in the room from the main floor...we could start WWIII at FFF. Wait...maybe I should put SCORE in a basket muzzle for class......since he's so DANGEROUS!

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

TheRedQueen wrote: She's never bitten anyone...but I'd like to keep it that way!

me too!

TheRedQueen wrote: I'll tell you though...even if you're having him wear it for training purposes...you're going to be limited to where you can use it...without getting screams of "OH MY GOD, that dog is wearing a muzzle!"

I know. *sigh* I even get that reaction when Murphy has just a head halter on.

just one of the reasons I stopped using the head halter style collars on Oscar. "Is that a muzzle?"

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07